Benoy Basu
Encyclopedia
Benoy Krishna Basu or Benoy Basu or Benoy Bose (1908-1930) was an Bengali
India
n revolutionary
.
, now in Bangladesh
. His father, Rebatimohan Basu was an engineer.
After passing the Matriculation Examination in Dhaka
, Benoy enrolled into the Mitford Medical School (now Sir Salimullah Medical College
).Under the influence of Hemchandra Ghosh, a revolutionary of Dhaka ,Benoy joined the 'Mukti Sangha', a secret society closely connected with the Jugantar
Party. He could not complete medical studies due to his association with revolutionary activities.
- a group organised by Subhas Chandra Bose in 1928 , at the occasion of Calcutta session of the Indian National Congress
.Soon Benoy started a local unit of the organisation in Dhaka , named Bengal Volunteers in Dacca .Later, the Bengal Volunteers became a more active revolutionary association and prepared a plan of "Operation Freedom" against the police repression in Bengal
, especially against the inhuman conduct with the political prisoners in different jails.
In August 1930, the revolutionary group planned to kill Lowman, the Inspector General of Police who was due to present in the Medical School Hospital to see an ailing senior police official undergoing treatment.On 29 August 1930, Benoy casually clad in a traditional Bengali attire breached the security and fired at close range. Lowman died instantly and Hodson, the Superintendent of police, was grievously injured.
His identity was never a secret. A copy of his photo was taken out of college magazine and pasted all over. A reward of Rs. 10,000/- was announced. But Binoy was far from helping someone receiving it. He was ultimately caught only to die at the Medical College Hospital in Kolkata, after the Battle of the Verandah.
In August, there are torrential rains in East Bengal. One such morning two Muslim villagers, with tatters covering their bare bodies were seen wading through knee-deep water. The nearest railway station, Dolaiganj, was their destination. They entered the platform which was swarming with policemen. Binoy's photo was pasted all around. The train from Dhaka to Narayanganj arrived. Every compartment was searched thoroughly. Binoy and his companion got into a third class compartment which was already over-crowded.
When the train reached Narayanganj, the police searched not only the train but had instructions to search the boats also. A river had to be crossed before one could reach Kolkata. Binoy came to know of it through his own sources. When the train slowed near a flag station, he began to walk towards the Ghat for a boat. They had to hire one to cross the turbulent Meghna. They changed their address, from Muslim beggars in tatters to one of a Zamindar with a servant. For a while they had to travel by a steamer. The whole episode was like a scene from a film. The name of the companion was Supati Roy. On reaching the city, they avoided Sealdah, the terminus, and got down at Dum Dum, a small way-side station. The journey from there to the slum area of No. 7, Waliullah lane in Central Kolkata, was somewhat uneventful. But a long stay for unknown persons might arouse suspicion. Binoy shifted to a Colliery at Katras Garh and from there to a peaceful place in North Kolkata. But he always had the premonition that the police would soon find him out. His fear proved correct and the police chief, Sir Charles Tegart, arrived there with a posse of policemen. But the bird had flown out of the cage. A clever boy Binoy proved to be a step more intelligent
in the Dalhousie square in Kolkata
.
On 8 December 1930, Benoy along with Dinesh chandra Gupta
and Badal Gupta
, dressed in European costume, entered the Writers' Building
and shot dead Simpson.
British police started firing.What ensued was a brief gunfight between the 3 young revolutionaries and the police.Some other officers like Twynam, Prentice and Nelson suffered injuries during the shooting.
Soon police overpowered them.However, the three did not wish to be arrested.Badal
took Potassium cyanide
, while Benoy and Dinesh
shot themselves with their own revolvers.Benoy was taken to the hospital where he died on 13 December 1930.
,in particular and India
,in general.
After Indian independence, the Dalhousie square was named B.B.D. Bagh - after the Benoy-Badal-Dinesh trio.
Bengali people
The Bengali people are an ethnic community native to the historic region of Bengal in South Asia. They speak Bengali , which is an Indo-Aryan language of the eastern Indian subcontinent, evolved from the Magadhi Prakrit and Sanskrit languages. In their native language, they are referred to as বাঙালী...
India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n revolutionary
Revolutionary movement for Indian independence
The Revolutionary movement for Indian independence is often a less-highlighted aspect of the Indian independence movement -- the underground revolutionary factions. The groups believing in armed revolution against the ruling British fall into this category. The revolutionary groups were...
.
Early life
Basu was born on 11 September 1908, in the village Rohitbhog in the Munshiganj DistrictMunshiganj District
Munshiganj also historically known as Bikrampur is a district in central Bangladesh. It is a part of the Dhaka Division and borders Dhaka District.-Geography:...
, now in Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
. His father, Rebatimohan Basu was an engineer.
After passing the Matriculation Examination in Dhaka
Dhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
, Benoy enrolled into the Mitford Medical School (now Sir Salimullah Medical College
Sir Salimullah Medical College
Sir Salimullah Medical College is a government medical college in Bangladesh. It is located in the old part of the capital, Dhaka. It is affiliated with the University of Dhaka. Before 1854 it was a Dutch "kuthi" which was used for business purpose....
).Under the influence of Hemchandra Ghosh, a revolutionary of Dhaka ,Benoy joined the 'Mukti Sangha', a secret society closely connected with the Jugantar
Jugantar
Jugantar or Yugantar was one of the two main secret revolutionary trends operating in Bengal for Indian independence.This association, like Anushilan Samiti started in the guise of suburban fitness club. Several Jugantar members were arrested, hanged, or deported for life to the Cellular Jail in...
Party. He could not complete medical studies due to his association with revolutionary activities.
Revolutionary activities
Basu and his peer revolutionaries joined Bengal VolunteersBengal Volunteers
Bengal Volunteers was an underground revolutionary group against the British rule of India.The group was functional from its inception in 1928 to the Indian independence.-The beginning:...
- a group organised by Subhas Chandra Bose in 1928 , at the occasion of Calcutta session of the Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
.Soon Benoy started a local unit of the organisation in Dhaka , named Bengal Volunteers in Dacca .Later, the Bengal Volunteers became a more active revolutionary association and prepared a plan of "Operation Freedom" against the police repression in Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
, especially against the inhuman conduct with the political prisoners in different jails.
In August 1930, the revolutionary group planned to kill Lowman, the Inspector General of Police who was due to present in the Medical School Hospital to see an ailing senior police official undergoing treatment.On 29 August 1930, Benoy casually clad in a traditional Bengali attire breached the security and fired at close range. Lowman died instantly and Hodson, the Superintendent of police, was grievously injured.
His identity was never a secret. A copy of his photo was taken out of college magazine and pasted all over. A reward of Rs. 10,000/- was announced. But Binoy was far from helping someone receiving it. He was ultimately caught only to die at the Medical College Hospital in Kolkata, after the Battle of the Verandah.
In August, there are torrential rains in East Bengal. One such morning two Muslim villagers, with tatters covering their bare bodies were seen wading through knee-deep water. The nearest railway station, Dolaiganj, was their destination. They entered the platform which was swarming with policemen. Binoy's photo was pasted all around. The train from Dhaka to Narayanganj arrived. Every compartment was searched thoroughly. Binoy and his companion got into a third class compartment which was already over-crowded.
When the train reached Narayanganj, the police searched not only the train but had instructions to search the boats also. A river had to be crossed before one could reach Kolkata. Binoy came to know of it through his own sources. When the train slowed near a flag station, he began to walk towards the Ghat for a boat. They had to hire one to cross the turbulent Meghna. They changed their address, from Muslim beggars in tatters to one of a Zamindar with a servant. For a while they had to travel by a steamer. The whole episode was like a scene from a film. The name of the companion was Supati Roy. On reaching the city, they avoided Sealdah, the terminus, and got down at Dum Dum, a small way-side station. The journey from there to the slum area of No. 7, Waliullah lane in Central Kolkata, was somewhat uneventful. But a long stay for unknown persons might arouse suspicion. Binoy shifted to a Colliery at Katras Garh and from there to a peaceful place in North Kolkata. But he always had the premonition that the police would soon find him out. His fear proved correct and the police chief, Sir Charles Tegart, arrived there with a posse of policemen. But the bird had flown out of the cage. A clever boy Binoy proved to be a step more intelligent
The last battle
The next target was Col NS Simpson,The Inspector General of Prisons, who was infamous for the brutal oppression on the prisoners in the jails. The revolutionaries decided not only to murder him, but also to strike a terror in the British official circles by launching an attack on the Secretariat Building - the Writers' BuildingWriters' Building
The Writers' Building is the secretariat building of the State Government of West Bengal in India. It is and is located in West Bengal's capital city of Kolkata. The Writers' Building originally served as the office for writers of the British East India Company, hence the name...
in the Dalhousie square in Kolkata
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
.
On 8 December 1930, Benoy along with Dinesh chandra Gupta
Dinesh Gupta
Dinesh Chandra Gupta or Dinesh Gupta was a Bengali revolutionary who fought against British colonial rule.-Early activities:...
and Badal Gupta
Badal Gupta
Badal Gupta was a Bengali Indian revolutionary who fought against British rule over India.-Early activities:Badal Gupta was born Sudhir Gupta in the village Purba Shimulia in the Bikrampur region of Dhaka, now in Munshiganj District, Bangladesh...
, dressed in European costume, entered the Writers' Building
Writers' Building
The Writers' Building is the secretariat building of the State Government of West Bengal in India. It is and is located in West Bengal's capital city of Kolkata. The Writers' Building originally served as the office for writers of the British East India Company, hence the name...
and shot dead Simpson.
British police started firing.What ensued was a brief gunfight between the 3 young revolutionaries and the police.Some other officers like Twynam, Prentice and Nelson suffered injuries during the shooting.
Soon police overpowered them.However, the three did not wish to be arrested.Badal
Badal Gupta
Badal Gupta was a Bengali Indian revolutionary who fought against British rule over India.-Early activities:Badal Gupta was born Sudhir Gupta in the village Purba Shimulia in the Bikrampur region of Dhaka, now in Munshiganj District, Bangladesh...
took Potassium cyanide
Potassium cyanide
Potassium cyanide is an inorganic compound with the formula KCN. This colorless crystalline compound, similar in appearance to sugar, is highly soluble in water. Most KCN is used in gold mining, organic synthesis, and electroplating. Smaller applications include jewelry for chemical gilding and...
, while Benoy and Dinesh
Dinesh Gupta
Dinesh Chandra Gupta or Dinesh Gupta was a Bengali revolutionary who fought against British colonial rule.-Early activities:...
shot themselves with their own revolvers.Benoy was taken to the hospital where he died on 13 December 1930.
Significance
The martyrdom and self-sacrifice of Benoy,Badal and Dinesh inspired further revolutionary activities in BengalBengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
,in particular and India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
,in general.
After Indian independence, the Dalhousie square was named B.B.D. Bagh - after the Benoy-Badal-Dinesh trio.